Punching above their weight and budget

Punching above their weight and budget [Te Matatini Society Inc]

A small regional radio station on the East Coast is being praised today for their stand out radio broadcasts at the worlds largest Kapa Haka festival by its organizers.

Ruatoria based radio Ngati Porou working with Gisborne based Turanga FM were commissioned as the official radio broadcaster at the Te Matatini o Te Ra Festival which has attracted 25,000 spectators to Gisborne.

Radio Ngati Porou has provided well researched broadcasts covering the Festival and the 42 teams who have taken the stage at this four-day kapa haka extravaganza. "I am proud of the local iwi radio stations which, given their size and budget, are punching well above their weight to provide a high quality broadcast of the event" says Darrin Apanui, Festival Executive Director. "We are hosting a Festival from a paddock on the outskirts of Gisborne, and yet we have been able to reach audiences in New Zealand and overseas. Radio Ngati Porou are doing an amazing job."

The popularity of the event crashed the server yesterday due to an overload of traffic wanting to listen to live streams of the Festival.

Erana Keelan-Reedy, General Manager of Radio Ngati Porou explains, "we were not expecting so many people logging on for our internet stream. Its great that we have had this much positive interest and feedback. Our team is made up of local rangatahi and experienced broadcasters. Its been an honour working with them and the effort they have given."

John Bishara, Chief Executive of Te Mangai Paho that funds Radio Ngati Porou and Turanga FM continues, "The breadth of research Radio Ngati Porou and Turanga FM brought to their broadcasts has been exceptional. Listeners are loving their coverage."

The festival concludes today with the nine best teams taking to the stage to battle for the title of the best Kapa Haka team in the world.

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